Decorative Hole Cover

ABSTRACT

A device for obscuring or disguising the hole of the core or tube upon which a roll of paper is wound, including an insertion component to be inserted into the hole, and a surface component to partially or completely obscure a hole. The surface component provides a surface for the addition of a decoration. The insertion component has at least one leg to be inserted into a hole, and may include a plurality of legs. In an alternative embodiment, the means of fastening is an adhesive applied directly to the decorative surface underside for securing the surface to the roll.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is generally related to decorative components for exposedspool ends and is specifically directed to a decorative cover for theopen ends of paper rolls such as toilet paper rolls, paper towel rollsand the like.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls and the like are generally shippedand stored as exposed rolls wrapped around a central tube, usually madeof cardboard. The central tube is generally exposed. In manyapplications, it is desirable to store one or more of the rolls in plainview in order to make replacement rolls readily accessible. In the pastbaskets or other containers have been used to store the replacementrolls and the central tube or core is exposed.

As an example, in common practice the paper or tissue which is commonlywound upon a core in order to form a roll which may be placed onto orinto a holder for dispensing the paper as needed by the user. It is afurther common practice to make available extra rolls proximate to thepoint-of-use. This is accomplished by placing such extra roll(s), by wayof example, in a cabinet near the point of use, on top of the toilettank, on a nearby shelf, or in some other easily accessible location.

For situations where the extra roll(s) of toilet paper are openlystored, many means are available to decoratively hide or disguise theroll(s). Usually such means cover an entire roll with some sort ofplastic, paper, metal, or cloth device.

Other means of openly storing extra or standby rolls withoutdecoratively disguising them include vertical stands, special shelves,or open baskets. Though these storage means have utilitarian value, theopen display of the toilet paper rolls is often not in keeping with thedecor of the bath or toilet room and can be considered unsightly.

It would be desirable to make this display less utilitarian Inappearance and more decorative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is directed to a device for covering or disguisinga core or tube-end in a decorative manner. The subject inventionproposes a means to simply, inexpensively and decoratively disguise anend or both ends of a toilet paper roll so that such roll or rolls canbe openly displayed in a manner that complements the decor of a bath ortoilet room, or is in keeping with the taste of the person who isresponsible for placing the extra roll(s) of toilet paper.

Specifically, the invention is directed to a device for obscuring ordisguising the hole of the core or tube upon which a roll of paper iswound. In the preferred embodiment such device includes an insertioncomponent to be inserted into the hole, and a surface component topartially or completely obscure the hole and the exposed edge of thepaper or other material wound upon the core. The surface component maybe removably attached to the insertion component. The surface componentprovides a surface for the addition of a decoration. Typically theinsertion component has at least one leg to be inserted into a hole, andmay include a plurality of legs. In an alternative embodiment, the meansof fastening is an adhesive applied directly to the decorative surfaceunderside for securing the surface to the roll. Other means such as, byway of example, small pins which could be inserted in the rolled paperor material, may also be used to secure the surface component to theroll.

In one embodiment the legs are flexible compression springs by which thedevice is frictionally held in the tube. In the preferred embodiment thelegs, when in a relaxed condition, are spaced outwardly from each otherso that they must be flexed inwardly toward each other in order to beinserted into a hole.

The legs may be of any suitable material including, but not limited tometal or plastic.

Generally, the diameter of the holes of the cores upon which toiletpaper is wound is universally similar to accommodate the many toiletpaper roll holders or dispensers currently on the market. It is theobjective of this invention to provide a device that can fit into suchholes in a manner that it self-adjusts to the hole diameter, andfrictionally yet removably holds itself in-place.

It is a further objective of this invention that such device has asurface that is approximately at ninety degrees to the insertioncomponent of the device and with a decorative surface cover of asufficient size so as to nearly or totally cover the hole and at least aportion of the exposed ends of the paper or other material wound uponthe core.

It is a further objective of this invention that such decorative surfacecan be fabricated in such a manner that it is decorative and pleasing tothe eye.

It is a further objective of this invention that such decorative surfaceprovides a means to which a decoration can be removably or permanentlyattached.

In another embodiment of this invention, a device is provided that canbe attached to the end of a roll of toilet paper without an insertionmeans engaging the hole of the core upon which the paper is wound. Sucha device is mechanically or adhesively attached to the paper itself.Similar to the previous embodiment such a device would provide a surfaceto cover the hole of the core as well as provide for the surface to bedecorated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 are plan views showing the device with integral surface and twolegs adapted to be placed in and frictionally held in the tube.Specifically, “A” is a view of the decorative surface, “8” shows thelegs prior to assembly and “C” shows the legs after assembly.

FIG. 2 shows the top view “A” and side view “B” of the leg assembly.

FIG. 3 shows the decorative surface mounted on the leg assembly.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the alternate embodiments of the device mounted inthe tube of a typical paper roll.

FIG. 6 shows the device with the adhesive on it attached to a roll ofpaper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1A, the decorative device includes a generallyflat surface 10 having a plurality of integral fasteners 12 for securinglegs 14 (FIGS. 1B and 1C) to the underside of the surface 10. It shouldbe understood that the legs 14 could be an integral feature of the flatsurface. The surface 10 does not need to be entirely flat, but may alsobe a decorative feature such as a flower or the like, see FIG. 5. Also,a mounting hole 16 may be provided so that a decorative feature may bemounted on the surface 10. Generally, the diameter of the surface 10 islarge enough to completely cover the tube hole or opening. It should beunderstood that the surface 10 does not need to be circular, as long asthe perimeter 16 covers the desired area.

A typical leg configuration is show in FIG. 2. A top view is shown inFIG. 2A and a side view is shown in FIG. 2B. As there shown, the legassembly 14 includes a central mounting surface 18 and a pair ofdepending legs 20, 22. In this embodiment the legs are made of acompressible material and are angled outward, such that the legs may befrictionally held in the tube 30, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Themounting surface may include a mounting hole 24 whereby the assembly maybe held together including the decorative element, the decorativesurface and the leg assembly, using holes 16 and 24 and a decorativeelement such as the flower 26, see FIG. 5.

In the preferred embodiment, the legs are removably secured to thedecorative surface by using the integral snap fasteners 12, see FIGS. 1Cand 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device is suitable for mounting a decorativeelement on the surface 10. There may be a decal or a three-dimensionalelement such as the flower 26, see FIG. 5. Also the decorative elementmay be an integral component of the surface 10, where desired. Otherdecorative components may be used as well, such as, by way of example,an LED night light mounted on surface 10.

With the surface 10 of one device being coupled to the surface 10 of asecond device so that the resulting opposing legs can be inserted intoopposing cores, multiple rolls may be mounted end-to-end in a column.

A perspective view of the final assembly is shown in FIG. 6. Thisillustrates how the decorative device of the subject inventioncompletely obscures the open end of the mounting tube of the paper roll32.

While certain features and embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail herein, it should be understood that the inventionencompasses all enhancements and improvements within the scope andspirit of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A decorative device to obscure the hole of thetube upon which paper or other material is wound, such devicecomprising: a) a surface component placed over an exposed edge of thewound paper or material for at least partially obscuring the hole andthe wound paper or material; and b) securing means for securing thesurface component to the hole.
 2. The decorative device of claim 1,wherein the securing means is an insertion component to be inserted inthe hole.
 3. The decorative device of claim 1, wherein the securingmeans is an insertion component to be inserted in the exposed edge ofthe wound paper or material.
 4. The decorative device of claim 1,wherein the securing means is a pressure sensitive adhesive on theunderside of the surface component.
 5. The decorative device of claim 1,wherein the surface component covers at least a portion the exposed edgeof the paper or material wound about the tube.
 6. The decorative deviceof claim 3, the insertion component including at least one leg to beinserted into a hole.
 7. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertioncomponent including a plurality of legs to be inserted into a hole. 8.The decorative device of claim 7, the legs comprising a flexiblematerial.
 9. The decorative device of claim 8, the legs movable betweena relaxed condition with the legs spaced outwardly from each other adistance greater than the diameter of the hole and a compressedcondition with the legs being inserted in and frictionally held in thehole.
 10. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertion componentcomprising metal.
 11. The decorative device of claim 2, the insertioncomponent comprising plastic.
 12. The decorative device of claim 9, thelegs comprising a flexible material.
 13. The decorative device of claim12, the legs movable between a relaxed condition with the legs spacedoutwardly from each other a distance greater than the diameter of thehole and a compressed condition with the legs being inserted in andfrictionally held in the hole.
 14. The decorative device of claim 3,wherein the insertion component comprises one or more pins which may beinserted into the exposed edge of the wound paper or material.
 15. Thedecorative device of claim 1, including a coupler for mounting aplurality of rolls end-to-end in a column with the decorative devicebeing mounted on the ultimate exposed end.
 16. A decorative device toobscure the hole of the tube upon which material is wound, such devicecomprising: a) a component to be inserted into the hole. b) a surfacecomponent removably attached to the insertion component.
 17. Thedecorative device of claim 16, the insertion component comprising metal.18. The decorative device of claim 16, the insertion componentcomprising plastic.
 19. The decorative device of claim 16, the legscomprising a flexible material.
 20. The decorative device of claim 19,the legs movable between a relaxed condition with the legs spacedoutwardly from each other a distance greater than the diameter of thehole and a compressed condition with the legs being inserted in andfrictionally held in the hole.
 21. The decorative device of 16, thesurface component including a mounting surface and the device furthercomprising a decorative feature added to the mounting surface.